Sheep

Cattle

Protozoal Infections in Birds

Protozoa are difficult to define, as they share
characteristics with animals, but they are not really animals in any other
way except that they can move independently, usually with whip-like tails
called flagellae, but sometimes with a sliding or rolling movement. The whip
like ones can be found in garden ponds if you have a lens and the sliding
ones include the slime moulds which most people have seen  not
individually, but as a colony  if they are keen gardeners. But no matter
what they are or how they move, protozoa can cause some very unpleasant
symptoms in birds and for a young, old or immune suppressed individual they
can often be fatal.

Signs that your bird has a protozoal infection

There are many protozoa which can infect birds but the
general symptoms are the same. Protozoa basically make a bird ill by
colonizing the gut and interfering with the absorption of fats and other
nutrients. This will make the bird lethargic and it may also cause
diarrhoea, which will be sticky rather than loose. If the absorption problem
has been fairly long-term, with a subclinical dose of protozoal infection,
then the vitamin deficiency can result in poor condition, feather problems,
itching and dermatitis. Unfortunately, not all birds suffering with a
protozoal infection with look unwell. Many are asymptomatic permanently,
others only for some of the time and others are ill straight away. All of
these can shed the protozoa in their faeces, though, so if a bird appears to
spontaneously improve it is still a very good idea to have a lab report on
its faeces, to make sure there are no protozoa present. Protozoa can encyst
themselves, in other words take on a protective coat to enable them to
survive outside the body and so they can live in dried faeces on the cage
floor or perches so it is important to keep on checking if you have had an
outbreak that the protozoa have been eradicated properly.

Spotting protozoal infections

Protozoa are very small, but with a lens with
reasonable magnification  although a microscope is better  you can check
for protozoa in the faeces of your birds. Because they move about, they are
easy to identify as they will be bumbling around under the lens; they are
the only things you will find in the birds faeces which will do this so
although this is not diagnosis in the proper sense, it will give you an idea
what you are dealing with before you take the bird to the vet. Different
protozoa move in different ways  giardia roll along, for example,
trichomonas are random movers  and in skilled hands this is diagnostic of
the species. The treatment tends to be the same for all protozoa so this
will not change the choice of medication, but if you are interested in birds
you might like to know what is causing their condition; it isnt many things
you can investigate in this way. That said, it is vital to follow strict
hygiene rules when doing this kind of thing; almost all protozoa can be
passed to humans and many can cause quite unpleasant symptoms.

Prevention of protozoal infections

Because protozoa can encyst  although different
species can survive for differing lengths of time outside of the host  it
is absolutely vital to disinfect the environment if a bird has had a
protozoal infection. Bleach will eradicate any remaining cysts, but it is
very important to let the cage or aviary dry out properly after cleaning, as
damp conditions can promote the survival of the parasite. Also, damp
conditions are not good for birds in general and keeping them in tip top
condition is the best way of all to prevent a devastating outbreak. Any
surface which is porous should be discarded - this will include wooden
perches, floors and any toys the birds may have. This is because bleach is
an irritant to birds and the fumes from the porous surfaces could be quite
damaging to them. Keeping drinking water clean, either by changing it
regularly or using a drinker which prevents soiling will make a huge
difference to re-infection rates. Because birds can be asymptomatic it is
essential to treat all of them not just the one who shows symptoms as it may
well be the apparently unaffected bird which is shedding the cysts in its
faeces and infecting all of the others. Any infected bird must be isolated
from the others and it is also good practice, after an outbreak, to set a
regime of regular testing to make sure that there are no asymptomatic birds
shedding protozoa.

Treatment of protozoal infections

Treatment is quite straightforward and consists of one
of several anti-parasitic medicines available to the vet. It is never a good
idea to medicate an animal yourself  even if you have found the protozoa
for yourself under a lens. All medicines should be given at the advised
dosage and it is particularly important to complete the course  the life
cycle of the protozoa will have been taken into account by the vet when
prescribing and stopping too soon will probably mean that the next
generation of protozoa are not killed. The most important part of the
treatment is to remember to give the medicine to apparently unaffected birds
as well, and to test their faeces after the course has finished, along with
the affected bird. Finally, some protozoal infections can be quite serious
in people who are immune compromised in some way, so a visit to the doctor
for anyone in this category who has come into contact with an affected bird
would probably be a very good idea.

Ask a Vet a Question

If you have any questions you would like answered, simply fill in
the box below and receive a rapid response from one of the online veterinary
surgeons.